Wednesday, September 14, 2016

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that cities can pay public employees to work on union business.

In a decision with statewide implications, the justices, in a 3-2 ruling, rejected claims by the Goldwater Institute that such deals between governments and unions amounts to an unconstitutional gift of public funds. Justice Scott Bales, writing for the majority, said the deal between the city of Phoenix and the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association benefits both the city and the taxpayers who are footing the bill.

That logic drew a stinging dissent from Justice Ann Scott Timmer.

“No public purpose is served by diverting officers from safeguarding the public to work almost unchecked for PLEA,” she wrote for herself and Justice Robert Brutinel. “The city has no control over how PLEA directs the officers on release time and is not even told what the officers do for PLEA.”

Tuesday’s ruling will have implications beyond Phoenix.

The greedy monopoly needs more time to rip off taxpayers! We warned you class conflict is here.